New Patriots Coach Weighs In On Key Drake Maye Change Ahead Of 2025

For all intents and purposes, Drake Maye enjoyed a strong rookie season with the New England Patriots. With the team winning just four games during the season, though, it was clear that changes needed to be made.

One of those changes involved overhauling their offensive system from 2024 and implementing a new one. That meant moving on from Alex Van Pelt as the offensive coordinator and bringing Josh McDaniels back to town to fill that role.

McDaniels will be working closely with Maye, but so will new quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant. After spending five seasons working as an assistant with the Cleveland Browns, new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel brought him aboard to work with Maye.

Switching the offense up on Maye in only his second professional season isn’t ideal, but the team believes he has what it takes to pick things up quickly. So far, Grant is pleased with what he’s seen from the second-year passer, which is an encouraging early development for the team.

“Drake is doing a hell of a job with a change from one offense to a new offense,” Grant said recently when speaking to reporters. “He’s been a pro’s pro. He’s been super intentional with everything we’ve asked him to do, so I couldn’t be happier with where he is right now.”

McDaniels had success previously when working with a young quarterback, Mac Jones, in his system, only for his development to come to a screeching halt after he left the Patriots for the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching gig. The hope is that he can help take Maye’s development to another level after his encouraging 2024 season.

In 13 games last season, Maye threw for 2,276 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also rushing for 421 yards and another pair of scores. That was good enough to earn him a Pro Bowl selection and an eighth-place finish in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.

Beyond the upgrades to the coaching staff, the front office has worked on getting Maye more talent to work with on offense. If he can put it all together, the Patriots could surprise a lot of folks in 2025.